How to Survive Life in the Suburbs

Today I Was A Bitch

in Family on

My SweetGirl is just that. Good hearted, kind, loving and sweet through and through.  She is also lacking a little bit in motivation. (foreshadowing)

Well, SweetGirl came to me after school today with a complaint.  She had been given the opportunity to play a piano song in her class.  She sat, she played, she was proud.  For a moment.  She was quickly followed by three other girls in her class who played “longer and harder songs, one of them was really good Mom and one was just showing off”.

Instead of being the supportive nurturing Mama I usually am; I was a snappy short tempered bitch.  My reply.  “Well, maybe those girls practice more then the bare minimum required of them.  Maybe their mothers don’t have to nag them every single day to get their piano done.  How many times did you practice this week?  If you want to succeed and get better you have to work at it.”  WHAT THE !  Who was that woman? 

SweetGirl did not know what hit her.  She had no idea that I had a headache from hell, that I had just picked cat poop off the floor, that the insurance company had screwed up again, that I had 14 things on the go, and about 6 hours of work to get done in the next two. In short, that poor kid was in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

As tears started in her eyes, matching ones welled up in mine.  Mommy Fail.  I turned it around as best I could, told her if she worked hard she could do anything.  Had the ability to be an amazing piano player, IS in fact an amazing little piano player.  Hugged her. Apologized and still felt like a big ole jerk.

Sometimes it’s hard to be a Mama in the Suburbs.

Sorry baby.  I will do better.

    • Comments

    5. Aw. I feel your pain mama – been there, done that (involving piano pratise…or lack there-of…as well). You showed your daughter that we all make mistakes, but own up to them and set things right. That makes you a good mum. 🙂

    7. Well – if it’s of any interest or any consolation, I do that kind of thing more than I should. I always resolve to watch my tongue,and invariably don’t. It’s VERY hard to be a mum…. very hard indeed.

    10. We’ve all been there lots o’ times…you handled it well afterwards. She’ll see you make mistakes and do your best to fix it.

    11. Oh my gosh 🙁 We’ve all been there. It’s tough being a Mama with lots on the go. I’ve had moments like that and have felt like you do. Heartbreaking. Give her an extra hug today. xoxox

    12. Oh my word, say it isn’t so!! You mean to tell us – you’re human like the rest of us?!? GASP!

      Ok, now I’M done being a bitch 😉

      Like the others have said, you recognized that it wasn’t your best moment, and addressed it immediately. Like Brian said, the message was a good one, even it wasn’t delivered in the way you would have liked. I’m sure Sweet Girl forgives you, and better yet, I’ll bet she thinks about the things you said, and recognizes that she CAN step up her game, if she wants.

    14. Oh sweets, you are too hard on yourself. Expecting anything “more proper” in the situation you were facing would mean you are perfect, and you’re not. And that’s okay too.